Reverse plating knitting machine



Oct. 13, 1936.

R. H, LAWSON REVERSE PLATING KNITTING MACHINE Filed July so. ,1931 s Shets-Sheet 1 fzvvzzvraR RoB RTHLAwsm Oct. 13, 1936. I I R. H. LAWSON 2,057,436

REVERSE PLATING KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 c@ ZNYENToR: \e YP0B'ERTH LAWSOM \5 e Oct. 13, 1936. R. H. LAWSON ,0

' REVERSE PLATING KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 30, 1951 sweets-sheet 5 Hum [NYE/Y TOR FOBERT H lAwsozsg By fa /TM ATTY 0 6 9 5 I W a 5 i 5\ 5 5 I? \I 6 mm n 8 F i- Oct. 13, 1936. R. H. LAWSON REVERSE PLATING KNITTING MACHINE Filed July so, 1931' 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. .9.

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[N YEA/T01? V ROBERTH LAwsm ATTY- Oct.1 3,1936. R. H. LAWSON -2,057,436

REVERSE PLATING KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 30. 1931 ashe-et-sneet 7 "13, Z ll [NI/EH70}? ROBERTHLAWJ'ON, 7 W

ATTy.

Oct. '13, 1936.

R. LAWSON REVERSE PLATING KNITTING MACHINE Filed Jill 30, 1951' 8 Sheets-Sheet [NYE/V7012: ROBERTHLAWSON,

ATTy.

Patented Oct. 13, 1936 UNITED STATES 2.051.436 REVERSE PLA'rmo KNITTING mom Robert H. Lawson, Pawtucket, R. 1., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. 1;, a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 30, 1931, Serial No. 554,086

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved method of and mechanism for effecting reverse plating, the mechanism being especially designed to effect perfect plating, i. e., knitted fabric having plain plated areas in which the plating thread alone shows on the outer face of the fabric.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the sinker cap and head together with certain other parts for controlling the operations of the sinkers and jacks carried bythe sinker head;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing means for effecting a movement of the sinker cap immediately prior to reciprocating knitting such as for the knitting of heels and toes;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. l and showing, as indicated in dotted lines, the movement of the sinker cap immediately prior to reciprocating knitting;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical elevation and partly in section of a detail;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the sinker cap, the upper portion thereof being broken away more clearly to show the cam construction;

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a sinker cap and head;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 1-4, Fig. 5, and showing the positions of the sinkers and jacks with respect to the needle cylinder for plain plating at one phase in the knitting operation;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing a sinker adapted to be controlled by a jack for reverse plating;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9, Fig. 5, but showing a jack having been selected by a cam whereby to position the companion sinker for plain plating;

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9, the jack. however, being shown as not having been selected for plain plating, the sinker consequently being controlled by its cams for reverse plating;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line lI-l I, Fig. 5, and showing a jack having been selectively raised for controlling the companion sinker for plain plating, the sinker, however, having been advanced a short distance only from the position shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. :12 is a view corresponding to Fig. 11, the jack being shown about to be depressed to an inoperative position so as not to act upon its companion sinker, whereby the latter may reverse plate;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line l3-I3, Fig. 5, at a later phase in the knitting cycle when plain plating is to be effected;

Fig. 14 is a view corresponding in phase to Fig. 13 but showing the jack completely depressed to an inoperative position, whereby the sinker may reverse plate;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line Iii-I5. Fig. 5, at a later phase in the knitting cycle when plain plating is to be effected, the jack being shown in a more advanced position as compared with Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a view corresponding in phase to Fig. 15;

Fig. 1'? is a sectional view taken along the line 15 l'l-I'l, Fig. 5, showing the sinker having been retracted by a cam, the sinker thereby being positioned for re-selection, the needles at such time being in an elevated position;

Fig. 18 is a view corresponding in phase to Fig. 17, showing the sinker having been retracted for re-selection by a cam;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line l9l9, Fig. 5, the sinker being shown as having been advanced by its jack to a position to effect plain plating;

Fig. 20 is a view corresponding in phase to Fig. 19, the sinker having been advanced as compared with the position shown in Fig. 18 in order to effect reverse plating;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken along the line 2l-2I, Fig. 5;

Fig. 22 is a view corresponding in phase to Fig. 21, the sinker being shown as having been retracted slightly by its jack for the purpose of insuring the turning over or reversing of the body and plating yarns so that the body yarn will show on the face of the fabric;

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken along the line 23-23, Fig. 5, showing the sinker as having been advanced to a knocking over position by a cam;

Fig. 24 is a view corresponding in phase to Fig. 23, likewise showing the sinkers as having been advanced to a knocking over position by a cam;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken along the line 25-25, Fig. 5 and showing the sinker as having been slightly retracted as compared with its position shown in Fig. 23, in which position the sinker remains until the cycle of operations, hereinbefore described, is completed;

Fig. 26 is a view corresponding in phase to Fig. 25;

Fig. 2'7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l--'l, Fig. 5, the sinker cap, however, having been advanced in a clockwise direction (Fig. for heel and toe or other reciprocating knitting;

Fig. 28 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line i9-i 9, Fig. 5 but with the sinker cam cap advanced as aforesaid;

Fig. 29 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 25-25, Fig. 5, but with the sinker cam cap advanced as aforesaid;

Fig. 30 is a sectional view taken along the line i5--i5, Fig. 5, but with the sinker cam cap advanced as aforesaid;

Fig. 31 is a detail view showing a needle and companion sinker, the needle being shown in raised position and having the body and plating threads in its hook, the sinker being in a relative position with respect to the needle cylinder shown in Figs. 17 and 18;

Fig. 32 is a view similar to Fig. 31, but showing the needle in a relatively lowered position and the nib of the sinker about to enter between the body and plating threads;

Fig. 33 is a view of a needle and companion sinker, the position of the sinker corresponding to the position of'the sinker shown in Fig. 20, the needle being shown with the body and plating threads in its hook and forward of the nib of the sinker;

Fig. 34 is a view of a needle and companion sinker, the position of the sinker corresponding to the position of the sinker shown in Fig. 19, the nib of the sinker being shown entered between the body and plating threads;

Fig. 35 is a view of a needle and companion sinker, the position of the sinker corresponding to the position of the sinker in Fig. 22, and the needle being shown in its stitch drawing position;

Fig. 36 is a view of a needle and companion sinker, the position of the sinkercorresponding to the position of the sinker shown in Fig. 23, and the sinker being shown in a forward, knocking over position:

Fig. 37 is a view of a needle-and companion sinker, the position of the sinker; corresponding to the position of the sinker shown in Fig. 36, the sinker being in a forward, "knocking over position;

Fig. 38 is a view of a needle and companion sinker. and showing the needle knitting over the back of the nib of a sinker during the knitting of heels and toes;

Fig. 39 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the plain plating and reverse plating paths of the butts of the lacks;

Fig. 40 is a view similar to Fig. 39 but showing the path of the jack butts when the needles, sinkers and jacks are moving in the direction of the arr w during the knitting ofheels and toes; and

Fig. 41 is a view similar to Fig. 40 but showing the path of the jack butts while the needles, sinkers and jacks are moving in the direction of the arrow during the knitting of heels and toes.

The invention hereinafter to be described, relates particularly to reverse plating by the cooperative action of needles and sinkers wherein the needles are, preferably, controlled in the usual manner. Accordingly, the detailed structure of the knitting machine excepting insofar as it relates to the control of the sinkers to eifect plain plating and reverse plating as desired, will be omitted, it being understood that the invention may be applied to any type of knitting machine, for example, to the machine disclosed in the reissue patent to Lawson 16,584, April 5, 1927.

The knitting machinaincludes a needle cylinder i within the tricks or grooves of which are slidably mounted needles 2, and to the upper end of which needle cylinder is fastened in any suitable manner the usual stitch ring 3 and sinker head 4, the sinker head being connected to the cylinder so as to rotate or reciprocate therewith. Above the sinker head 4 is a sinker cap 5, stationarily supported during circular knitting but oscillatable during reciprocatory knitting, to the underside of which cap are fastened in any suitable manner a series of cams 6, I, 8 and 9 for controlling the in and out movements of the sinkers lo, the said cams being adapted either to engage the butts ll of the sinkers or edges i 2 of the sinkers opposite the butts. As hereinafter to be more fully described, the cam 9 has up standing therefrom and connected thereto a bar or plate l3 (Fig. 4) which extends through a slot I which permits the cam to be moved radially to and from the position shown in Fig. 4

from and to the position shown in Fig. 5. The

slot i4 is provided in a plate i5 which is attached to and depends from the cap plate IE to the underside of which latter the beforementioned cams 6, 1 and 8 are attached to and depend from. To impart radial movements to the cam 9 as aforesaid, a lever I1 is provided, 0. depending arm l8 thereof being reduced as at l3, such reduced end fitting within a notch 20 provided at intermediate the ends of the plate I 3. The plate I3 is supported for sliding movements by means of slots 2| being provided therein which are traversed by the shanks of screws 22, which screws are fastened to bracket 23 which in turn is fastened to the cap plate [6 as by a screw 24. In

I order properly to guide the plate i3, a plate 25 is fastened to the bracket 23 as by means of a screw 26, the free end of the plate 25 overhanging the plate l3 in order to provide a guiding slot therebetween and the plate l6. Rocking movements may be imparted to the lever I! as by means of an arm 21 which overlies the long arm 28 of the lever i1 and which arm 21 is adapted.

when rising, to rock the lever I! on a pivot pin or screw 23 by means of which the lever i1 is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the bracket 23.

, Rocking movements of the lever I! are limited, when the arm 28 is swung upwardly by the arm 21, by means of an adjustable stop screw 30 which passes through and in threaded engagement with a lug 3i projecting laterally from and forming part of the bracket 23, a set screw 32 serving to lock the stop screw 30 in adjusted position. The movements of the arm l3 of the lever I! in the opposite direction may be limited by engagement of the plate 25.

The means for imparting vertical movements tothe arm 21, are shown in Fig. 1, wherein the arm 21 is shown as being provided with a depending boss 33 which boss is adjustabiy fastened to the upper end of a rod 34 as by means of a set screw 35. The rod 34 extends downwardly from the boss 33 and through a bearing consisting of a plate 36 fastened to a circular base 31 of the machine as by means of screws 33. Disposed a short distance below the bearing 36 is a collar 39, the collar surrounding the shaft 34 and being adjustably fastened thereto as by means of a set screw 40. Between the upper face (if the collar 39 and the bearing plate 36 is disposed a coil spring 4| which tends normally to retain the arm 21 in a lowered position with respect to the arm 28 of the lever ll. Immediately prior to carried by the drum 49 the resumption of circular knitting, as after the knitting of heels and toes, it is necessary to withdraw cam 9 or rather radially to project the same to the active position shown in Fig. 5, in which position the said cam 9 acts upon the butts 42 of-jacks 43 in order radially to move the same in a direction away from the needle cylinder 1, the movement of the jacks being for the purpose of positioning the same for reselection in-a manner hereinafter to be more fully described. As is evident from inspection of Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, elevation of the arm 21 causes the lever 11 to rock upon its pivot 29 thereby radially moving the cam 9 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5 and against the tension of coil spring 44, one end of which is fastened to a pin 45 carried by the cap l6 and the other end of which is fastened to a pin 46 laterally projecting from and connected to the plate l3.

The lower end of the rod 34 is fastened as by means of a pin or screw 41 to a toe 48 which is maintained in contact with the surface of a drum 49 or suitable cams carried thereby (not shown), by means of coil spring 4|. The cam drum 49 is periodically advanced by means not a necessary part of the invention and not herein shown, and when cam drum 49 is so advanced, a cam engages the toe 48 and elevates therod 34 against the tension of the spring 4|. The toe 48 is part of a lever 50 which latter is provided with a boss 5i loosely mounted on a shaft 52, the purpose of the lever being to steady the rod 34 and maintain the toe 48 in proper engagement with the surface of the drum 49 or cams thereon.

Referring to Figs. 5, 6, 39, '40 and 41, there is shown in addition to the cams hereinbefore disclosed for actuating the sinkers, .other cams for controlling the movements of the jacks 43, the butts 42 of which normally travel in a path indicated by the arrows 53 and in the direction indicated by the said arrows during circular knitting and in both directions during reciprocating knitting. Such other cams include: a cam 54 for engaging the butts 42 of such jacks as may have moved outwardly a short distance due to centrifugal force or otherwise; cam 9 hereinbefore referred to; an incline or cam surface 55 which is a guard cam for lowering jacks by engaging the top edges'of such of the butts 42 as may have been elevated above the position shown in Fig. 6; a cut-out portion 56 provided in a bottom plate 51 of the sinker head, such cut-out portion being defined on one side by the inclin d surface 58; a cam 59 for engaging the upper edges of the butts 42 of non-selected jacks 43, or jacks not selected as hereinafter to be described, thereby causing the jacks to be depressed to the position shown in Fig. 6; a cam 60 for thereafter engaging the lower ends of the non-selected jacks and again elevating them to the position shown in Fig. 6; a cam 6| provided with an incline or cam surface 62 for engaging the butts 42 of non-selected jacks and retracting the same to the position shown in Fig. 18, the cam 6| being also provided with a second incline or cam surface 63 for engaging the butts 42 of the non-selected jacks and retracting them as indicated in Fig. 20, such retracting movements being continued as indicated in Fig. 22 and for the purpose of reverse plating as will be hereinafter more fully described; and finally a cam 64 for engaging the butts 42 of the nonselected jacks and causing them to rejoin the others or selected jacks.

At or about the point of the knitting cycle indicated in the view, Fig. 9, certain of the jacks 43 are selected from others by means of radially or otherwise movable cams or plungers 65. The cams 65 areplural in number, one being provided as shown in Fig. 9 at the level of a frangible butt 66 carried by the jack 43, and other duplicates of such cams 65 being located at other levels to engage other butts 66, one such butt 61 being shown in dotted lines, Fig. 9. The butts 66, 61

are frangible and therefore readily removable, whereby various patterns may be knitted by breaking off the butts 66,- 61 of the jacks 43, as desired. The plurality of plungers 65, one only being shown, are selectively controlled in any desired manner by meanswhich is not a necessary part of the present invention which will not be disclosed in detail.

After selection as just described, the selected jacks travel along the path indicated by the arrow at 53 (Fig. 5) and while so travelling engage a cam surface 68, which advances the jacks from the position shown in Fig. 13to that shown in Fig. v15 without, however, affecting their companion sinkers. Thereafter and as indicated in Figs. 15 and 1'7, the cam 8 engages the butts H of the sinkers and causes the sinkers to be retracted from the position shown in Fig. 15 to the position shown in Fig. 17, such retracting movement of the jacks by the sinkers Ill being brought about by edges 69 on the undersides of the sinkers engaging nibs 10 provided on the upper edges of the jacks 43, the sinkers being cut out or rec"sscd as at H to accommodate the said nibs. Continued rotation of the selected jacks 43 causes their butts 42 to engage a cam surface 12 forming part of the cam 6|, whereby the jacks are advanced to the position shown in Fig. 19, such advance of the jacks being communicated to the companion sinkers In by the aforesaid interengagcment of the nibs 10 with the edges 69. The advance of the jacks caused by the cam surface 12 advances the companion sinkers from the position shown in Fig. 32 to that shown in Fig. 34 in which latter position the upwardly and inwardly inclined nibs 13 intermediate the ends of the sinkers enter between the body and plating yarns 14 and 15 respectively, whereby such body and plating yarns are maintained in separated relation and perfect plating assured. Immediately after the jacks have been advanced by the cam surface 12, they are retracted by a cam surface 16 forming a part of the outer surface of the cam l, the jacks 43 being thereby retracted from the position shown in Fig. 19 to the position shown in Fig. 21. Thereafter the butts of both the non-selected and selected sinkers are engaged by a cam incline 11 carried on the forward face of the cam 1 and by such cam face 11 engaging the butts l l of the selective sinkers such sinkers are advanced to the knocking over position shown in Figs. 23 and 36. Thereafter the sinkers and jacks move along in circular paths until they reach the cam 54 when the cycle of operation as hereinbefore described in detail is repeated.

In addition to the cams hereinbefore described for controlling the movements of the needles and companion sinkers, the cams 6 and l are respectively provided with cam surfaces I8 and 19 for engaging the butts 42 of the jacks during regular and-reverse strokes of heel and toe or other reciprocating knitting, i. e., engaging the butts of such jacks as may be advanced too far radially inward, accidently or otherwise. In addition to the cam 54 for advancing the butts 42 of Jacks 43 that may have been displaced radially due to centrifugal force or otherwise, the cam 64 is provided with a corresponding guard cam surface 89 which performs the same functions during re- During reciprocating knitting, such as heel and toe knitting, the needles, sinkers and jacks reciprocate in the usual manner and during such reciprocations cam 9 is in the retracted position indicated in Fig. 4, and when in such position the jacks are advanced at an early time by the cam surface 12 during the regular or anti-clockwise strokes (Fig. 5) and by a cam surface 82, which forms one face of cam 6|, during reverse or clockwise strokes of the jacks, the earlier advancing movements imparted to the jacks being due to the fact that immediately upon beginning the heel and toe work the cam cap 5 is advanced or moved in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3) by means including a cam 83 (Fig. 1) mounted upon the drum 49 and a lever 84 pivoted upon the shaft 52, the other arm of which lever 84 has pivoted thereto a rod 85 to the upper end of which is pivoted a lever 96 (Fig. 3) intermediate the ends thereof as at 81, one end of such lever 86 being pivoted at 88 to a plate 89 itself fastened in any convenient manner to the latch ring post 90. The free end of the lever 86 is bevelled as shown at 9|, Fig. 2. Immediately prior tothe knitting of the heel, a cam 83 engages an arm of the lever 84 rocking the same and thereby causing the link 85 to be depressed with the result that the wedge shaped cam 9| is moved from an upper position to the position shown in Fig. 3 where it is shown as having engaged an abutment 92 in the form of a screw adjustably mounted in one arm 93 of a bracket 94 fastened to the cap plate |6 as by means of screws 95, and thereby advance the cap 5 to the position shown in Fig. 3. Another cam 83 is carried by the drum 49 for correspondingly moving the cam 9| immediately prior to the knitting of a toe of a stocking.

The movement of the wedge shaped cam 9| to the position shown in Fig. 3, limits the anticlockwise strokes (Fig. 3) of the sinker cap 5 whereby instead of the abutment 92 on such strokes engaging a face 95 of the carrier ring post, it is stopped short of such face by the outer face of the cam 9| with which it engages,

it being understood that during the clockwise strokes of the sinker cap, a screw 91 adjustably mounted in an arm 98 of the bracket 94 engages an adjacent face 99 of the yarn lever box.

The advancing of the sinker cap 5 in the manner just described causes the cam surface 12 through the jacks 43 during regular or anticlockwise strokes, Fig. 5, and the cam surface 82 during reverse or clockwise strokes of the needles, sinkers and jacks, to advance the sinkers earlier in the knitting cycle than would otherwise be the case, whereby the sinkers reach a position corresponding to the knocking over position (Figs. 36, 37) before the needles have descended and drawn the heel and toe thread or threads below the sinker nibs 13 with the result that the heel and toe thread or threads is or are measured over the backs I of the sinker nibs as shown in Fig. 38.

Heel and toe or other reciprocating knitting .is indicated in Figs. 27-30 wherein: Fig. 27 represents the relative positions of the sinkers and jacks when the same have reached such posi- ,tions with respect to the sinker cap as is indicated by the line Fig. 5, during clockwise movements of the needles, sinkers and jacks, it being understood that the cam 9 at such time is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 28 shows the relative positions of the sinkers and jacks while the needles, sinkers and jacks are still moving in an anti-clockwise direction with respect to the sinker cap and when they have reached the position indicated by the line |9 9, Fig. 5. On the other hand Fig. 29 indicates the relative positions of the sinkers and jacks while they are moving in a reverse direction, i. e., clockwise, Fig. 5, the sinkers and jacks at such time being, with respect to the sinker cap, .at the position indicated by the line 25-25, Fig. 5. In Fig. 30 the sinkers and jacks are shown still moving in a reverse or clockwise direction and as being in a position indicated by the line |5|5, Fig. 5.

Thus plain plating is effected by having the body and plating threads separated by the sinker nibs 13 as shown in Figs. 31, 32, 34 and 36; while reverse plating is effected by causing the body and plating threads to be drawn over a downwardly and outwardly inclined edge II as shown in Figs. 31, 33, 35 and 37, the cam surface 63 engaging the jack nibs 42 and causing them and corresponding companion sinkers to move from the position shown in Fig. 20 to that shown in Fig. 22, whereupon the plating thread I5 is caused to roll outwardly or away from the needle cylinder with respect to the body thread 14 from the position shown in Fig. 33 to that shown in Fig. 35, the relative rolling of the threads thereby positioning the plating thread in the forward portion of the needle hook as shown in Fig. 35, thus reversely positioning the said threads within the needle hooks as shown in Figs. 35 and 37 as compared with the plain plating relation of the body and plating threads as shown in Figs. 34 and 36. Heel and toe knitting is effected by drawing one or more threads over downwardly and outwardly edges I00 back of the sinker nibs as shown in Fig. 38.

The operation of the mechanism hereinbefore described in detail may be briefly summarized as follows: the needles. sinkers and jacks during circular knitting rotate in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 5) and during such rotations some of the said jacks'are selectively advanced to move along the path I02, Fig. 39, the sinkers and needles during such movements of the jacks cooperating for the purpose of knitting plain plated portions of the fabric, the cooperative movements of the sinkers and jacks for that purpose being indicated in Figs]. 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, the corresponding movements of the needles and sinkers being shown in Figs. 31, 32, 34 and 36; while the jacks not selected, i. e., not advanced, travel along the path I03, Fig. 39, in which path the jacks and sinkers successively assume the positions shown in Figs. 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26, the needles and sinkers meanwhile assuming the positions shown in Figs. 31, 33, 35 and 37, whereby reverse plating is effected in desired courses and at desired wales. During regular or anti-clockwise strokes of reciprocating knitting (Fig. 40) the jack butts 42 travel along a path I M, the cam surface 12 by engaging the Jack butts 42 causing the sinkers to be advanced to the relative position with respect to its needles, shown in Fig. 38; and during reverse or clockwise reciprocating strokes, the jack butts 42 along a path I05 (Fig. 41), the cam surface 82 causing the sinkers to be advanced to a knitting position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 38.

The jacks 43 are each provided with a butt or nib I06 which depends from the horizontally disposed portion of each jack and, when in the sinker head, slides within a recess I01 provided in the upper portion of such sinker head. The recess I01 defines a shoulder I08 adjacent to the outer portion of the sinker head, such shoulder, by engaging the butts or nibs I06, acting as a stop to prevent unintentional withdrawal of the jacks during knitting.

I claim:

1. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles independently mounted therein and having sinkers independently movable to and from stitch casting off position, said sinkers having nibs, some at least of the said sinkers being provided with means forward of the nibs to effect a reversal of threads fed to the needles in a normal plating relation, some of the said sinkers being so constructed and operated as to permit the needles to draw the stitches over the backs of the sinker nibs.

2. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles and sinkers independently mounted therein, said sinkers being provided with nibs and some at least of said sinkers being so constructed and controlled as tocooperate with the needles to eifect reverse plating forward of the sinker nibs and plain plating by entry of the sinker nibs between the body and plating threads.

3. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles independently mounted therein and having sinkers independently movable to and from stitch casting off position, said sinkers having nibs, some at least of the said sinkers being provided with means forward of the nibs to effect a reversal of threads fed to the needles in a normal plating relation, some of the said sinkers being so constructed and operated as to permit the needles to draw the stitches over the backs of the sinker nibs, in combination with means for causing the reverse plating sinkers to be retracted whereby to roll the yarns and ensure reverse plating.

4. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles and sinkers independently mounted therein, said sinkers being provided with nibs and some at least of said sinkers being so constructed and controlled as to cooperate with the needles to effect reverse plating forward of the sinker nibs and plain plating by entry of the sinker nibs between the body and plating yarns, in combination with means for causing the reverse plating sinkers to be retracted whereby to roll the yarns and ensure reverse plating.

5. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles and sinkers independently mounted therein, nibs provided upon the sinkers intermediate the ends thereof, some at least of said sinkers being so constructed and actuated as to cooperate with adjacent needles in such a manner as to effect reverse plating forward of the sinker nibs, plain plating by entry of the sinker nibs between the body and plating yarns, and reciprocatory knitting by causing the travel sinkers to draw their stitches over the backs of the sinker nibs.

6. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles independently mounted therein and having sinkers independently movable to and from stitch casting off position, said sinkers having nibs, some at least of the said sinkers being provided with means forward of the nibs whereby to effect reverse plating in conjunction with adjacent needles, some of the said sinkers being so constructed and operated as to permit the needles to draw the stitches over the backs of the sinker nibs, instrumentalities individual to the sinkers and individually controlling the movement of the same, and means consisting of two cam paths for differentially controlling the movements of the instrumentalities, in combination with other means for selectively determining which cam path shall control the movements of the said instrumentalities.

7. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles and sinkers independently mounted therein, said sinkers being provided with nibs and some at least of said sinkers being so constructed and controlled as to cooperate with the needles to effect reverse plating forward of the sinker nibs and plain plating by entry of the sinker nibs between the body and plating threads, instrumentalities individual to the sinkers and individually controlling the movements of the same, and means consisting of two cam paths for differentially controlling the movements of the instrumentalities, in combination with other means for selectively determining which cam path shall control the movements or the said instrumentalities.

8. A knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles independently mounted therein and having sinkers independently movable to and from stitch casting off position, said sinkers having nibs, some at least of the said sinkers being provided with means forward of the nibs whereby to effect reverse plating in conjunction with adjacent needles, some of the said sinkers being so constructed and operated as to permit the needles to draw the stitches over the backs of the sinker nibs, in combination with means for causing the reverse plating sinkers to be retracted whereby to roll the yarns and ensure reverse plating, instrumentalities individual to the sinkers and individually controlling the movement of the same, and means consisting of two cam paths for differentially controlling the movements of the instrumentalities, in combination with other means for selectively determining which cam path shall control the movements of the said instrumentalities.

9. A knitting machine of the independent nee- A dle type having needles and sinkers independently mounted therein, said sinkers being provided with nibs and some at least of said sinkers being so constructed and controlled as to cooperate with the needles to effect reverse plating forward of the sinker nibs and plain plating by entry of the sinker nibs between the body and plating yarns, in combination with means for causing the reverse plating sinkers to be retracted whereby to roll the yarns and ensure reverse plating, instrumentalities individual to the sinkers and individually controlling the movement of the same, and means consisting of two cam paths for differentially controlling the movements of the instrumentalities, in combination with otherpath shall control the movements of the said instrumentalities.

10. A knitting machine-oi the independent needle type having needles and sinkers independently mounted therein, nibs provided upon the sinkers intermediate the ends thereof, some at least 01' said sinkers being so constructed and actuated as to cooperate with adjacent needles in such a manner as to effect reverse plating forward of the sinker nibs, plain plating by entry of the sinker nibs between the body and plating yarns, and reciprocatory knitting by causing the sinkers to draw their stitches over the backs of the sinker nibs, instrumentalities individual to the sinkers and individually controlling the movement of the same, and means consisting of two cam paths for diil'erentially controlling the movements of the instrumentalities, in combination with other means for selectively determining which cam path shall control the movements of the said instrumentalities.

11. A circular knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles and sinkers and other instrumentalities independently mounted therein, means for controlling the radial movements 01' the sinkers to and from stitch knocking over position, a sinker cam cap for controlling such radial movements 01' the sinkers, in combination with means for advancing the sinker cam cap prior to reciprocating knitting, whereby, during such reciprocating knitting, fabric may be knitted by the needles drawing their stitches over the backs of the sinker nibs, in combination with a cam adapted to re-position the instrumentalities for selection during circular knitting and means for moving the same to an inactive position prior to reciprocating knitting.

12. A circular knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles, sinkers and jacks independently mounted therein, in combination with a sinker cam cap provided with a plurality of cam paths for differentially controlling the movements of the jacks, the jacks and sinkers being inter-connected in such a manner that when the jacks are controlled by one cam =path sinkers are caused to efiect reverse plating and when controlled by another path sinkers are caused to efiect plain plating.

13. A circular knitting machine of the independent needle type having needles, sinkers and Jacks independently mounted therein, in combination with a sinker cam cap provided with a plurality of cam paths for diflerentially controlling the movements of the jacks, the Jacks and sinkers being inter-connected in such a manner that when the jacks are controlled by one cam path sinkers are caused to eilect reverse plating and when controlled by another path sinkers are caused to effect plain plating, and wherein the instrumentalities are controlled by the path first named during reciprocatory knitting.

14. An independent needle knitting machine having a series of needles and sinkers adapted to move independently to and from stitch casting oil positions, said sinkers having nibs thereon, in combination with means for relatively controlling the needles and sinkers so that plain plated stitches are knitted by the conjoint operation of the needles and sinkers and while the nibs of the sinkers are between the body and plating threads, and for relatively controlling the needles and sinkers to cause reverse plating to be effected forwardly of the nibs of the sinkers.

15. A knitting machine having means for simultaneously feeding at least two yarns to needles in a normal plating relation and having independently mounted therein needles and sinkers, said sinkers having nibs thereon, means to: so controlling the relative movements or the needles and sinkers that reverse plating is effected forwardly of the said nibs and plain plating is eifected by causing one yarn at least to be drawn over the backs of the sinker nibs.

16. A slotted sinker head having inter-connected instrumentalities consisting of sinkers and jacks mounted for sliding movements in the slots of the said sinker head, the inter-connection including a slot in one of the elements and a projection on the other element so that one oi! the said elements is movable independently of the other and so that at one phase of the knitting cycle a sinker is advanced by a Jack and at another phase of the knitting cycle a sinker is retracted by a jack.

ROBERT H. LAWSON. 

